The 5 Best Lunch Spots Around Vail Valley

A satisfying midday meal can be the difference between an ordinary afternoon and one filled with energy for the next adventure. Across the Vail Valley, lunch menus range from freshly prepared tacos and hearty sandwiches to artisan cheese boards, Mexican specialties and gourmet market creations. Whether diners need a quick bite between errands, a relaxed meal after a morning outdoors or a place to gather with friends, local restaurants offer plenty of choices beyond the traditional burger and fries. The Best of Vail Valley recognizes lunch spots that bring distinctive flavors, fresh ingredients and welcoming dining experiences to the region.

Drunken Goat

Drunken Goat in Edwards combines a restaurant and wine bar experience with a menu centered on artisan cheeses, charcuterie and creative small plates. Its offerings include bruschetta, salads and sandwiches, with combinations such as truffled egg salad, Italian cold cuts and chicken salad featured among its catering selections. Guests can explore cheese boards accompanied by ingredients such as fig jam, honey, dried fruit and crackers, making lunch an opportunity to sample several complementary flavors. The restaurant also offers takeout and catering, extending its food selections beyond the dining room.

Rocky Mountain Taco

Rocky Mountain Taco began with longtime Vail Valley residents who shared a passion for Mexican cuisine and fresh ingredients. Its menu allows customers to customize tacos, burritos, tortas and quesadillas with fillings such as marinated carne asada, slow-cooked pork carnitas and Alambre, a combination of steak, bacon, chorizo, cheese and peppers. Vegetarian choices include Hippie Crack, featuring grilled potatoes, peppers, onions, melted cheese and crema.

Westside Cafe

Westside Cafe in West Vail serves American comfort food with a lunch menu that extends well beyond standard sandwiches and burgers. Its selections include a French dip with roast beef and Swiss cheese, a Reuben with house corned beef and a Yard Bird sandwich featuring a cornflake-coated chicken breast. Diners seeking something different can order grilled bison nacho dip, tuna poke nachos or short rib macaroni and cheese. The restaurant also offers soups, salads and other hearty dishes, giving guests a broad selection for a casual midday meal.

Del Toro Mexican Cuisine

Del Toro Mexican Cuisine brings a menu of traditional Mexican dishes and regional specialties to West Vail, serving lunch daily beginning at 10:30 a.m. Its offerings include carne asada enchiladas with queso fresco and nopalitos salad, along with chicken enchiladas available with Suizas, chipotle, mole or poblano sauce. Diners can also choose pollo en mole, featuring roasted chicken served with rice, or a burrito filled with rice, beans and other accompaniments. With a dedicated lunch menu and a separate dinner selection, guests have options for seeking a substantial Mexican meal during the day.

R Farmers' Market

R Farmers' Market in Avon combines a gourmet grocery store, butcher shop, bakery and kitchen with an emphasis on fresh, minimally processed ingredients. Its lunch menu includes house-ground prime burgers, French dip sandwiches, hot lobster rolls and pork belly banh mi, alongside salads and rotating daily specials. The business sources meats and produce from local farms and trusted suppliers, prepares sauces and dressings in-house and bakes its own bread. Customers can enjoy a freshly prepared lunch or explore the market's selection of specialty foods, baked goods and chef-prepared items to take home.

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